Random noise in seismic data affects the signal-to-noise ratio, obscures details, and complicates identification of useful information. We have developed a new method for reducing random, spike-like noise in seismic data. The method is based on a 1D stationary median filter (MF) — the 1D time-varying median filter (TVMF). We design a threshold value that controls the filter window according to characteristics of signal and random, spike-like noise. In view of the relationship between seismic data and the threshold value, we chose median filters with different time-varying filter windows to eliminate random, spike-like noise. When comparing our method with other common methods, e.g., the band-pass filter and stationary MF, we found that the TVMF strikes a balance between eliminating random noise and protecting useful information. We tested the feasibility of our method in reducing seismic random, spike-like noise, on a synthetic dataset. Results of applying the method to seismic land data from Texas demonstrated that the TVMF method is effective in practice.
Removal of Random Noise in Seismic Data by Time-varying Window-length Time-frequency Peak Filtering
